Amherst, MA, United States

Living in Amherst, MA means facing a major university's expansive footprint. The University of Massachusetts Amherst, with its 24,000 enrolled undergraduates, dominates the town. While the campus offers perks like a library that reaches 26 stories, it also brings a persistent bureaucratic headache - riots have flared up over sports losses, and the university has faced backlash over policies limiting Iranian student admissions. For those who can navigate the red tape and occasional unrest, Amherst provides access to the resources of a large research university, but it's not for the faint of heart.